The city-sponsored ROAR job training academy was mentioned in last weekend's Unite Rochester Editorial report. ROAR registrants are seen in this March 2012 file photo.

After the first six months of the Unite Rochester initiative, the Editorial Board published a special report last Sunday. Below are a few responses to the report from readers via Facebook.

Let's keep talking

I enjoyed reading the special report from the Editorial Board. Thank you D&C for opening the door six months ago for a community discussion. Certainly there is much more to do and much more to say ... let's keep talking!

Janet Lomax

Anchor at News10NBC and Unite Rochester blogger.

Listen to the poor

No one is wasting their time when addressing racism, as the need for accepting others is very important. Hate comes in many forms, colors, and lifestyles. I am poor, and not once has anyone asked what I need to break my poor cycle. I suggest a forum of those who are struggling, on welfare, uneducated, and, yes, people who are living in poverty to be invited or offered the chance to come to a large conference and share their needs with others. Maybe this will help with the "BIG" poverty issue as well.

It is not all about race. Race is an issue, but (so are) not having quality day care, good paying job, single parenting support, mental health issues. Many factors play a role in poverty. Who is hosting the next poverty conference where all genders, cultures, sexual orientations, religions, income levels, disabilities and people with open minds address the problems, not point fingers at one race and actively work together for a positive tomorrow? I am ready for change and teamwork.

Jessica Gibson

Patches insufficient

I am disappointed in (the Editorial Board's) recommendations. Nothing new here and nothing that addresses the roots of poverty, which begin much earlier than kindergarten. We have a community of poor people that need more than a truant officer or Hillside to make the changes necessary to move out of poverty. Hillside, mentoring programs through churches, etc., are not unneeded, but the kids who take part in those programs are already ahead of the game, because they know enough to ask for help. It's the other kids and their families that need to be reached out to.

Jobs are great, and so is housing. But these piecemeal programs - a few jobs here, a Habitat house there - just put patches on a leaky boat.

Kathryn Quinn Thomas

Motivation matters

If one does the homework, one will reap the benefits. ... I am not against subsidizing entirely, but it should be for survival, not perks! If one chooses to live on government benefits (and I don"t mean retirement) then one should expect to live within the means that income provides.

Carol DeMartino Harrington

Just a 'friendly face'

Economic inequality and racial inequality, while not identical, are closely linked. ... Only when they are (really) seen and encountered and not just talked about will poor and working poor Americans take their place at the table

In contrast, mostly what I see here is talk about the poor and the subaltern by more well-off people and not many of the poor or even the more strident voices of the community that offend middle class sensibilities. A dialogue is not inclusive if one group gets to define what inclusion means.

I do not believe (Martin Luther King) would have found it sufficient to simply be nice an ask someone how their children are doing. Being nice is not going to change inequality. In fact it can sometimes just put a friendly face on inequality and even inhibit needed action. ...